National Science Board Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Members

Ms. María A. López-Freeman

Executive Director, California Science Project

María Alicia López-Freeman is the Executive Director of the California Science Project, an infrastructure for science professional development comprised of a network of science faculty, professional developers, and teachers of science K-16 on various campuses of the University of California, the California State University, and independent colleges. She was recently named the Associate Director for Professional Development of the UC Science and Mathematics Initiative. She earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics and a master's degree in education from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. For many years she taught chemistry and physics in large urban inner-city high schools where she served as department chairperson and developed science programs. As a California science teacher, Ms. López-Freeman worked to provide equal access to all students and lead efforts to increase the participation of students from underrepresented groups in science.

Ms. López-Freeman frequently serves on review panels for state and federal agencies and was involved with the development of the National Science Education Standards. She most recently served on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Framework Committee. She sits on the board of directors of the California Post Secondary Commission and the California State Summer School for Science and Mathematics (COSMOS). Previous appointments were to the Glen Commission for the Teaching of Mathematics and Science for the 21st Century, the High School Science Advisory Committee of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and the Adolescent and Young Adult Science Committee for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Ms. López-Freeman also chaired the California Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission and led the multiculturalism effort of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).